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Any of you have a bad gall bladder with your thyroid condition?
I'm just wondering how common it is in the thyroid community. I don't have stones, but they are pretty sure mine is non-functioning. I get a hida scan this week though. What kind of symptoms did any of you have? I'm kind of hoping this has been the source of my chest pain. My sister had bad chest pains with hers although the docs said it wouldn't cause them. She had hers removed and never had chest pain again. If my chest pains are not caused from it, my cardiologist said I might have prinzmetal angina (coronary artery spasms). I HOPE NOT. That is horrifying and a terrible condition. I am now having pain directly over the gall bladder though as well as in my middle back. Thanks for any info.
COMMUNITY LEADER
danie is no longer active on the forum, so it's unlikely she will respond to your question...
It's very unlikely that you'd be able to get your gallbladder and a parathyroid removed at the same time, because the organs are in separate locations within the body and would require individual incisions. Gallbladder surgery is often done laproscopically, these days, with 4-5 very small incisions vs one large incision.
Additionally, a gall bladder surgery would, usually, be done by a general surgeon, while a parathyroid surgery would be done by an endo, ENT or one experienced in parathyroid, but, typically not a general surgeon...
It's very unlikely that you'd be able to get your gallbladder and a parathyroid removed at the same time, because the organs are in separate locations within the body and would require individual incisions. Gallbladder surgery is often done laproscopically, these days, with 4-5 very small incisions vs one large incision.
Additionally, a gall bladder surgery would, usually, be done by a general surgeon, while a parathyroid surgery would be done by an endo, ENT or one experienced in parathyroid, but, typically not a general surgeon...
I too developed lichen planus and eczema, mine was mostly on my arms, hands and legs. Found out it was due to all of the medicine I was on. I quit the meds and the rashes went away.
Just wondering about any meds you might be on?
best wishes
Just wondering about any meds you might be on?
best wishes
Would love to know the results of your scan and hear how everything worked out for you. Do you have thyroid issues too? I have been in agony for 5 weeks (diarrhea, massive weight loss, agonizing upper abdominal pain, low grade fever, etc.) and every test that's been run so far has been negative. This week is the HIDA scan, although I had one 5 years ago that was normal.
I have Hashimoto's and my thyroid levels are not controlled very well, mainly the T3 levels. Thinking of trying T3 only (Cytomel) but the only compromise my endo will do is NatureThroid. Thank God for the internet or I wouldn't have learned of the link between thyroid and gallbladder. My entire family (mother and her siblings and my grandmother) all had their gallbladders out. And I am certain that every one of them is undiagnosed hypothyroid.
I sure want to try my damnedest to treat my thyroid better and hope that helps my gallbladder. Otherwise I guess I will have no choice to have it removed. (My normal weight is 112 and now I weight 98 pounds. Scary.). :-(
I have Hashimoto's and my thyroid levels are not controlled very well, mainly the T3 levels. Thinking of trying T3 only (Cytomel) but the only compromise my endo will do is NatureThroid. Thank God for the internet or I wouldn't have learned of the link between thyroid and gallbladder. My entire family (mother and her siblings and my grandmother) all had their gallbladders out. And I am certain that every one of them is undiagnosed hypothyroid.
I sure want to try my damnedest to treat my thyroid better and hope that helps my gallbladder. Otherwise I guess I will have no choice to have it removed. (My normal weight is 112 and now I weight 98 pounds. Scary.). :-(
Bruce my diet could not be any cleaner. I hate meat and rarely eat it. When I do it is grassfed and just a tiny amount. I eat it because of my anemia. I do not eat grease or sugar or almost anything processed. My diet is largely based on fruits and veggies. I already have the diarrhea problem you mention for over the last week. I cannot eat anything. I was actually severely dehydrated. I have taken digestive enzymes before which did not change anything either way. I am not worried about the diarrhea since I already have it lol!!!!!!!! The doctors told me if my gall bladder is non-functioning, it is essentially behaving like I had it removed. I appreciate the input. Tomorrow I will get the scan and then when I get the results I will know for sure. At this point, I can only eat cream or rice, rice krispies, and boiled potatoes. Anything else, and lets just say my whole day is ruined and I'll spend it in the bathroom. I lost 11 pounds in the last 2 weeks.
COMMUNITY LEADER
You're right that hypothyroidism slows the system down. Regardless of the reason for having gall bladder removal, the end result is the same -- it's gone!! Sort of like having thyroid removed surgically, or it being destroyed by antibodies...... the end result is hypo, either way.
Have you thought about trying enzymes to help break food down better?
I don't mean to be argumentative, but neither my husband, myself, or anyone I've known to have gall bladder removed had issues with diarrhea and/or such severe issues with the stomach after gall bladder removal.
We're all different and one's experience will be totally different from others. My point is: you may or may not have further issues once the thyroid is gone. In my experience, removal often eliminates the trouble. These are things to discuss with your doctor prior to any surgery.
Have you thought about trying enzymes to help break food down better?
I don't mean to be argumentative, but neither my husband, myself, or anyone I've known to have gall bladder removed had issues with diarrhea and/or such severe issues with the stomach after gall bladder removal.
We're all different and one's experience will be totally different from others. My point is: you may or may not have further issues once the thyroid is gone. In my experience, removal often eliminates the trouble. These are things to discuss with your doctor prior to any surgery.
before you get the thing out - ask your dr. for a little welchol or questran light. See if that reduces the acid in the system and aids in the digestion.
avoid greasy foods. Chicken like chicken express or anything breaded or deep fried is your worst enemy. Sounds like you may have the chronic cholestecitis. I can tell you I would kill for my gallbladder back. People say you cant notice a difference, but there are certain foods that will have me pulling over asap when driving. Like I can eat cheese, but if its melted for some reason it hits me hard. also peanut butter, fried anything.
I dont want to sound graphic, and please forgive me, but you have never had diahreah as bad as you will for the first couple of months (or weeks) after having the galbaldder out. I dont care what people say, the body needs this thing. But if yours is history, see what the hida scan shows. Mine showed it worked fine but it hurt like a mofo all the time.
avoid greasy foods. Chicken like chicken express or anything breaded or deep fried is your worst enemy. Sounds like you may have the chronic cholestecitis. I can tell you I would kill for my gallbladder back. People say you cant notice a difference, but there are certain foods that will have me pulling over asap when driving. Like I can eat cheese, but if its melted for some reason it hits me hard. also peanut butter, fried anything.
I dont want to sound graphic, and please forgive me, but you have never had diahreah as bad as you will for the first couple of months (or weeks) after having the galbaldder out. I dont care what people say, the body needs this thing. But if yours is history, see what the hida scan shows. Mine showed it worked fine but it hurt like a mofo all the time.
Thanks for the tip on apple cider vinegar. I have heard of its benefits many times. Unfortunately I have another autoimmune condition in my mouth called oral lichen planus. It's terribly painful and I always have ulcers and irritation. I cannot eat anything acidic, chocolate, vinegar etc without bringing out a terrible flare. Lucky me! This ALSO developed within the last year.
Thank you for the stories. I also have heard people are happier with the removal of the gall bladder once they started having problems. Barb - I heard that hypothyroidism slows the system down and impacts digestion. This can lead to a non-functioning gall bladder where as gall stones are more related to diet and other factors. I know many people have it though that do not have any type of thyroid condition. It's just funny that in the last 2 years of my thyroid mess, everything is going bad!!!
COMMUNITY LEADER
I used to get horrible pains in my upper stomach....... really sharp, almost felt like I was having a heart attack, only they were on the right side. The pains would, usually, last for several hours, almost always hit during the night. Once the pain hit, I couldn't be comfortable in any position. Gradually, over the period of a few hours, the pain would start "migrating" downward, until it would, eventually, just dissipate. Of course, by then, I'd lost my whole night's sleep!!
I started having these attacks when I was in my early 30's (early 80's) and finally, in 2005, I went for a physical and when the doctor pressed in the area of my gall bladder, I nearly came off the table. I was sent for an ultra sound ........ turns out, I had a rather large gall stone, plus quite a few smaller ones. Explanation for my attacks. My gall bladder was removed within a week of finding the stone, because it was large enough to block the bile duct (what the attacks were).
I have not regretted, for one minute, having it removed. I eat anything I want to and the only time I ever have trouble is if I eat too close to bedtime; then I get acid reflux, but that's because the valve between my stomach and esophagus doesn't close. Since the gall bladder helps break down fats, stools might have a different appearance after eating a meal with excess fat/grease, but it doesn't make me sick.
The gall bladder issues started way back in the early 80's, I had it removed in June 2005 and wasn't dx'd hypo until mid 2008. I don't think it was thyroid related, at all.
As luck would have it, just 3 months after I had my gall bladder removed, my husband began having the same type of pain, so I sent him off to the doctor; lo and behold, within a week of his ultra sound, he was having his removed, as well. He, too, eats whatever he wants with no ill effects. He has no thyroid condition and is not on any prescription medication at all.
Of all the people I know, who have had gall bladder removed, none of them regret it (except Bruce and I don't really "know" him). :-)
I started having these attacks when I was in my early 30's (early 80's) and finally, in 2005, I went for a physical and when the doctor pressed in the area of my gall bladder, I nearly came off the table. I was sent for an ultra sound ........ turns out, I had a rather large gall stone, plus quite a few smaller ones. Explanation for my attacks. My gall bladder was removed within a week of finding the stone, because it was large enough to block the bile duct (what the attacks were).
I have not regretted, for one minute, having it removed. I eat anything I want to and the only time I ever have trouble is if I eat too close to bedtime; then I get acid reflux, but that's because the valve between my stomach and esophagus doesn't close. Since the gall bladder helps break down fats, stools might have a different appearance after eating a meal with excess fat/grease, but it doesn't make me sick.
The gall bladder issues started way back in the early 80's, I had it removed in June 2005 and wasn't dx'd hypo until mid 2008. I don't think it was thyroid related, at all.
As luck would have it, just 3 months after I had my gall bladder removed, my husband began having the same type of pain, so I sent him off to the doctor; lo and behold, within a week of his ultra sound, he was having his removed, as well. He, too, eats whatever he wants with no ill effects. He has no thyroid condition and is not on any prescription medication at all.
Of all the people I know, who have had gall bladder removed, none of them regret it (except Bruce and I don't really "know" him). :-)
Try drinking some apple cider vinegar…apparently it may help with gall bladder symptoms. Has something to do with thinning out and clearing the bile ducts.
Google “apple cider vinegar, gallbladder”
It may help some of the symptoms until you can get fully diagnosed.
Google “apple cider vinegar, gallbladder”
It may help some of the symptoms until you can get fully diagnosed.
Interesting stories. I have the HIDA scan on Thursday so we will see. Bruce- I had HORRIBLE pain when they touch my gall bladder. Thursday my gall bladder hurt so bad I could not even stand up straight. It still hurts with a shooting pain through the day as well as when I move a certain way. My sister had her gall bladder removed and so did my grandma and grandpa. My mom had issues, but never had hers removed. It does run in my family. I don't want to get it removed, but if it is the the cause of my chest pains, I am first in line for surgery lol. At this point the only thing I can eat is rice crispies, boiled potatoes and broth ERRRRR. Everything else causes MAJOR problems.
Funny…two years ago (well before any diagnosis with my thyroid) I began having a strange feeling in my upper abdomen, more of a tightness or like a runners cramp along with constipation and bouts of tiredness… had the full run of tests…endoscope, hida scan, CT scan, and all came back normal! I was told then it was probably gastritis! That feeling still comes and goes but has never gone away. Of course they did not run any test on the thyroid at that time.
Since being diagnosed as being Hypo earlier this year, I began putting two and two together and have a feeling the strange sensations and pains in the upper abdomen is a symptom of the slow metabolism and perhaps slowing of the gall bladder function (since it is a gland and affected by your metabolism). My meds are not at their proper levels yet and hope that once they are, the issues with my digestive tract will resolve themselves!
Gallbladder issues as well as thyroid issues run in families… Both my mother and grandmother had their gallbladders out and my sister is hypo as well…coincidence? Don’t think so!!!
Since being diagnosed as being Hypo earlier this year, I began putting two and two together and have a feeling the strange sensations and pains in the upper abdomen is a symptom of the slow metabolism and perhaps slowing of the gall bladder function (since it is a gland and affected by your metabolism). My meds are not at their proper levels yet and hope that once they are, the issues with my digestive tract will resolve themselves!
Gallbladder issues as well as thyroid issues run in families… Both my mother and grandmother had their gallbladders out and my sister is hypo as well…coincidence? Don’t think so!!!
this was the first thing taken out on mine. Not one stone was found. the hypothryoidism caused slow digestion and a thickening of the gallbladder wall. They thought all of this junk was actually my galbladder because the docs wernt creative enough to run my TPO or TGAB. Then months later they realized they made an "oopsie". but i did have legit pain down there and my middle back hurt like hell
if you want to see if its your galbladder, push on your glabladder and exhale at the same time. My hida scan looked pretty good but they still took it out. Whatever you do, try to keep the thing as long as you can. I dont care what they say, the non galbaldder thing is a whole beast in itself. especially if you eat anything that you enjoy eating :)
get a 2nd opinion....Only get it out if you absolutely have to. I cannot tell you how bad you will wish you had a galbladder after it is gone.
make sure you get you some welchol or some equaestran light and have that stuff stocked and ready to go.
if you want to see if its your galbladder, push on your glabladder and exhale at the same time. My hida scan looked pretty good but they still took it out. Whatever you do, try to keep the thing as long as you can. I dont care what they say, the non galbaldder thing is a whole beast in itself. especially if you eat anything that you enjoy eating :)
get a 2nd opinion....Only get it out if you absolutely have to. I cannot tell you how bad you will wish you had a galbladder after it is gone.
make sure you get you some welchol or some equaestran light and have that stuff stocked and ready to go.
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